eMedicine Specialties > Endocrinology > Metabolic Disorders

Vitamin D Deficiency and Related Disorders: Follow-up

Author: Vin Tangpricha, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Lipids, Emory University School of Medicine
Coauthor(s): Natasha B Khazai, MD, Instructor of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Emory University School of Medicine
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Oct 5, 2009

Follow-up

Further Outpatient Care

  • After correction of their vitamin D status with oral vitamin D, patients should have a repeat test of their 25(OH)D level to confirm that they are in the normal range. If a patient remains persistently low despite several attempts at correction with oral vitamin D, a trial of UVB light therapy (ie, by tanning lamps) may be considered to improve vitamin D status.

Deterrence/Prevention

Complications

Miscellaneous

Medicolegal Pitfalls

  • Vitamin D status should be assessed in all patients with osteoporosis. If they have vitamin D deficiency, these patients should have their 25(OH)D levels corrected.
  • Infants fed exclusively with breast milk should have vitamin D supplementation as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
  • Physicians should exercise caution when recommending over-the-counter vitamin D supplementation. Some brands may not contain the amount of vitamin D stated on the bottle.
 


More on Vitamin D Deficiency and Related Disorders

Overview: Vitamin D Deficiency and Related Disorders
Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Vitamin D Deficiency and Related Disorders
Treatment & Medication: Vitamin D Deficiency and Related Disorders
Follow-up: Vitamin D Deficiency and Related Disorders
Multimedia: Vitamin D Deficiency and Related Disorders
References
Further Reading
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Keywords

vitamin D deficiency, D vitamin, vitamin D, vitamin D calcium, vitamin D3, low vitamin D, rickets, osteomalacia, vitamin D2, deficiency of vitamin D, cholecalciferol, ergocalciferol, nutritional rickets, fat soluble vitamins, elevated parathyroid hormone, PTH, secondary hyperparathyroidism, vitamin B2, calcium absorption, phosphorus absorption, bone mineralization, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D, 1,25(OH)2D, circulating 25(OH)D, osteoporosis, bone mineral density, cutaneous synthesis of vitamin D, cutaneous vitamin D production, vitamin D synthesis, melanin, vitamin D malabsorption, calcium absorption from the small intestine, vitamin D insufficiency

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Vin Tangpricha, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Lipids, Emory University School of Medicine
Vin Tangpricha, MD, PhD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Clinical Endocrinologists, American College of Endocrinology, Endocrine Society, and Massachusetts Medical Society
Disclosure: NIH Grant/research funds Other

Coauthor(s)

Natasha B Khazai, MD, Instructor of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Emory University School of Medicine
Natasha B Khazai, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists and Endocrine Society
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

Udaya M Kabadi, MD, Professor, Department of Medicine, University of Iowa College of Medicine
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD, Senior Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine
Disclosure: eMedicine Salary Employment

Managing Editor

Romesh Khardori, MD, Chief, Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Molecular Medicine, Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine
Romesh Khardori, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, American College of Physicians, American Diabetes Association, American Federation for Medical Research, American Medical Association, American Society of Andrology, Endocrine Society, and Illinois State Medical Society
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Mark Cooper, MBBS, PhD, FRACP, Head, Diabetes & Metabolism Division, Baker Heart Research Institute, Professor of Medicine, Monash University
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

George T Griffing, MD, Professor of Medicine, St Louis University School of Medicine
George T Griffing, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for the Advancement of Science, American College of Medical Practice Executives, American College of Physician Executives, American College of Physicians, American Diabetes Association, American Federation for Medical Research, American Heart Association, Central Society for Clinical Research, Endocrine Society, International Society for Clinical Densitometry, and Southern Society for Clinical Investigation
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

 
 
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